The following are the most frequently asked questions from our students and applicants.Please click on the questions to receive answers.

Q: What is it like to study at TMC?

A: Students told us and others that study Thai massage at TMC is like learning in a school with a home environment. They feel like being at home surrounded with friendship and caring people. The school facility is professionally set up with appropriate massage material and tools, serene decorated classrooms, clean bathrooms and with total comfort. Healthy herbal tea and Thai banana and fresh practice clothe are a part of learning days. Convenient transportation is available to ease students burden of getting to and fore school.

School location is away from the city for peaceful learning environment is an ideal for making students feel closer to nature. The school is next to the canal with tall trees in background. Students have nostalgia memory of taking break time with their friends at the veranda overlooking the canal.

Learning time spend at TMC is more than just know how to perform Thai massage, but couple them with adopting Thai culture as well. TMC students adapt to the way of Thai living. They take on the Thai manner in learning Thai massage at TMC. Students are learning the ancient art in the Thai way and be able to perform gracefully.

Teachers at TMC do not hold themselves as the master of the trade. They are the messengers of the ancient teachers. They royally follow the teaching of the ancient teachers and transfer the true knowledge of Thai massage to the seekers. TMC teachers teach from the school curriculums which follow the ancient teaching and are approved by the Thai Ministry of Education. The teachers teach with utmost attention for students learning benefit to make sure that students will graduate with full knowledge of each course they take.

TMC graduates are bonded with the school and their peers. They keep contact and return to visit school. They also keep connection among their schoolmates. They feel that this is a place where they want to remember and proudly tell others to come and experience their memory.

Q: Who are teaching the classes and what is the teacher to students’ ratio and class sizes?

A: Students learn from certified teachers only – not from interns. All classes at TMC are approved by the Thai Ministry of Education and are taught by certified teachers only. We do believe that students come a long way from home to Thailand would expect and wish to learn from the true teachers. Therefore, we have suitable numbers of qualified-certified teachers to teach each class at all time. The classroom size is important in effective learning. Teacher/student ratio is 1/8 and above 8 – 16 students with 2 teachers. Class sizes are: small classroom is a maximum of 8 students with 1 teacher, while larger classroom is a maximum of 16 students with 2 teachers.

A: Studying at TMC a full day is a full 6 hours of learning - giving and receiving massage. The body needs to rest and time to release toxin and enjoy the healing from the massage. We recommend students to get enough rest in the evening time and should study from reading the textbook about the theory and review practice session on the positions, Sen - lines, pressure points from the manual. Students could exchange massage between friends during weekend but only one day and need to get at least a day break.

Q:Is Thai massage learning or receiving one safe?

A: Yes, if it is done properly. The teaching at TMC focuses on safety. The textbook is clearly indicated contraindication for safety concern. During learning, the teacher explains along with the manual of the cautionary and what part to avoid and how to massage with safety. During practice, the teacher is always there to make sure students perform them safely. However, non-safety-conscious-provider may cause harm to the receiver. Therefore, when receiving massage, always ask the provider to concentrate on safety especially on stretching techniques. When in doubt don’t do it!!!

Q:What courses would be right for me?

A: This depends on your objective. If you wish to learn for self knowledge to use with your friends and family, then how much time do you have? If you have 5 days, you should take the Foundation of Thai Massage (Level 1). This course will give you strong background of Thai massage for the whole body massage. You should continue practicing with your friends. You will be able to give massage among your family. Please see the table for guideline of taking courses to suit your need.

Q:I learned Thai massage from other school(s), can I continue Level 2 or 3 at TMC?

A: No. Because TMC Level 1 has different content from other school Level 1 and it is an important foundation for Level 2 and Level 3 course at TMC. Student will be lost and confused without the foundation from Level 1 at TMC. Not that what you have learned is not good. Learning is always
a gain. You can add on to the well of your knowledge and still room for more.

A: No: Because to be able to perform therapeutic massage, student needs to acquire adequate knowledge and sufficient practice to derive at effective result. Level 2 will enforce the practice and most importantly, Level 2 provide additional techniques that will need to apply in Level 3. Thus the two levels are important to achieve most out from Level 3.

Q:Can I learn Level 1 and 2 now and return to continue Level 3 next year?

A: Yes, you can learn Level 1 and come back for Level 2, and 3 or higher in the future as long as we have class available for you. TMC courses are designed for international students to be able to return and take higher level with continuity. Many of TMC students are returning students and take one or two weeks at a time. They feel like taking a vacation with knowledge to go home with. We offer a free review before taking a higher level for example take a review on Friday of Level 1 or Level 2 before taking Level 4 or week 6 of GCT.

Q:Can I learn Level 1, 2 and 3 and join the GCT (teacher training program) with the future program schedule?

A: Yes, you need to contact the school for the available course schedule to suit you. You may be required to review Day 5 of Level 1 or 2 before joining the GCT internship in week 4 – free of charge.

A: i5 is the first half of GCT program. This is very intensive program gears to prepare the students to become professional in Thai massage. The teaching includes lectures, theory, and strict techniques and discipline in providing Thai massage to variety of receivers. The i5 curriculum also provide the opportunity to the graduates to return for GCT program. They take 5 more weeks which will concentrate on teaching training discipline plus additional massage modalities and in depth knowledge prepare students to be a government certified teacher.
GCT program is the most effective program to prepare the students to become both professional and teacher in Thai massage with an amazing result. It is real life learning and the stage for training is to real pupils seeking knowledge from the GCT interns.

Q:After taking classes at TMC, can I perform massage service in my country?

A: It depends. No matter what massage school of college you take massage courses from anywhere in the world, each country has specific law in accordance to massage service for public, please inquire from your own source and abide by law. For Thai people, learning 90 hour Thai massage course at TMC is eligible for massage practice and taking 150 hour course at TMC is eligible them to take the skill testing with the Labor Department for work certification to work aboard. TMC has curriculum that approved by NHPC Canada for competency and allow the students to join membership and able to obtain insurance to practice. Please check the current requirement since it may change.

Q: How can I be sure if TMC is the right school for me? Once the class starts, I would be already spend money and the time here?

A: We understand each student concern wholeheartedly. That is why at TMC we do what we promise in the course content and in our teaching system. But we respect the wish of everyone. If you are not happy taking the class, we have the refundable policy that we can choose what is best for your situation. Our goal at TMC is to offer the true knowledge of Thai massage to all who sincerely want to learn.

Q:What is the massage style taught at TMC? Is it northern or southern?

A: TMC follows the original Thai massage style and techniques from the research by the Thai Massage Revival Project which resulted from the meeting of the great teachers around the country in 1985 and created the safe, polite and effective curriculum to follow from 1987.
Thai massage as acknowledge among the Thai practitioners and the Thai Traditional Medicine under Public Health Department differentiates in 2 types which are Royal Thai massage and Folk Thai massage. TMC curriculum follows the Folk Thai massage style with combination of Royal Thai massage for manner and gentle movement and accuracy on pressure points. We do not differentiate the style by northern and southern style.

A: Yes, you can select courses that easy for your knees like Thai Table Massage, Thai Chair Massage, Thai Foot Massage are best for all physical condition! Even some one that really wish to learn Thai Massage with limitation on the body, the teacher will help adjust the posture for the students. TMC support people with physical disability to train for Thai massage. We have trained Thai massage for blind persons in Thailand and in Viet Nam and they are able to perform successfully. We also have trained hearing impaired students, students with arm or leg problems. We welcome learners with disability or physical limitation to write to us and we will find the way to make this learning work for you.

Q: Foot reflexology or Thai Foot Massage: What is the style at TMC?

A: TMC teaches Thai Foot Massage with 36 reflex points by using wooden stick for pressing. With detail workbook and chart, the class starts with 13 warm up techniques for total comfort. Follow with how to apply pressure on the 36 reflexology points. The class includes relaxation massage on legs, head, neck, shoulders and arms. The teaching is uniquely systematic. The training is effective for students to feel comfortable to perform Thai foot massage by the end of the 2 days session. With some more practice on their own, students will be able to memorize all techniques and points in a relatively short time

Q:Is herbal ball application taught at TMC?

A: Yes, the making of fresh herbal ball from selecting, slicing, mixing and wrapping into the ball.
Then train students how to apply both fresh and dried herbal ball to Thai massage for health and for therapeutic in the Level 3 course.

A: Yes, students are training to exercise with Lue Sri Dadton prior to start the practice class each day. By the end of the week, students should learn 17 positions.
TMC also offer the separate course for students seeking to learn on Yogi Exercise.
For students attending the Thai massage courses at TMC, there is no need to attend the
Yogi exercise course separately

Q:What type of clothes should I prepare for the school?

A: At school, we provide you with comfortable practice clothes. You only need your own appropriate outfit for field training.

A: Yes there are a few. But you do not need to be near the school. It is more convenient to be in the city area for internet café, telephone service, seeing the city and being near your classmates for practice and outgoing as a group. TMC provide transportation to – fore to school at no charge within the pickup zone. Select one in the accommodation list. They are good providers.

Q:If I ride motorcycle and come to school on my own, can I get a discount off the course fee?

A: No, transportation is a complementary service and not included in the tuition fee. We also suggest that you take the transportation provided. It is safer than riding motorcycle in Chiang Mai. Many accidents occur from unfamiliar with the road and not knowing the driving behavior of the local people.

Q:What about the “Facebook.com”?

A: “I had a great time there at TMC with lots of wonderful memories…
By the way, I have created a group on www.facebook.com called TMC Thai Massage School Of Chiang Mai where all students who have been to TMC can keep in touch, share photos, videos, and comments. If you could share this information with everyone, it will be nice to keep in touch with everyone, for example not only who attended the GCT program but also the people who we met every week that started level 1,2,3 or i5. It is also open for people who are thinking about taking a course at TMC so we can share our experience with them. The group is slowly growing since it was started and already has many pictures of us at the school.” Thomas GCT 600